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Electric heaters - will switching from convection to oil filled make a difference?

Marches
Marches Posts: 19 Forumite
in LPG, heating oil, solid & other fuels
I have convection heaters and a little portable fan heater as the only means of heating my flat, would switching to oil filled be better?
Once I turn the convection heaters off it goes cold again quite quickly, I'm wondering roughly how long oil filled heaters stay warm for? Half an hour? I've never used them and I'm basically wondering whether they're worth getting.

Comments

  • Cardew
    Cardew Posts: 29,064 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Rampant Recycler
    No!

    They will retain heat longer, but take longer to produce heat.

    It is 'swings and roundabouts' for the same running cost, the amount of heat produced is identical.
  • Marches
    Marches Posts: 19 Forumite
    Cardew wrote: »
    No!

    They will retain heat longer, but take longer to produce heat.

    It is 'swings and roundabouts' for the same running cost, the amount of heat produced is identical.

    Is there any form of electric heating which will heat up in a short time but stay warm for a decent amount of time? Say 5 minutes to warm up, half an hour heat? Or is it futile? :(
  • Cardew
    Cardew Posts: 29,064 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Rampant Recycler
    Futile.

    All electrical heaters produce exactly the same amount of heat, for the same amount of electricity(and hence cost) as they all are 100% efficient.

    The only difference is the way they deliver that heat.

    I appreciate you are new to MSE but there are many many posts on this subject and the answer is always the same.
  • Marches
    Marches Posts: 19 Forumite
    Looks like I'll be investing in blankets and hot water bottles then.
  • macman
    macman Posts: 53,129 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Your question has already been answered (many times). The problem is that you fail to define what you mean by better'. If you want 'fast' heat, use fan heaters, if you want 'longer' heat use oils filled rads, if you want 'quiet' heat, use convectors.
    But all will cost you exactly the same to run, so if by better you mean 'cheaper', then it doesn't make any difference.
    No free lunch, and no free laptop ;)
  • amiaspden
    amiaspden Posts: 134 Forumite
    An alternative to blankets/hot water bottles would be a heated throw e.g. http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4500881.htm
    I have my heating turned off now and this throw is all I need in the evenings whilst sitting in front of the TV.
  • Marches
    Marches Posts: 19 Forumite
    macman wrote: »
    Your question has already been answered (many times). The problem is that you fail to define what you mean by better'. If you want 'fast' heat, use fan heaters, if you want 'longer' heat use oils filled rads, if you want 'quiet' heat, use convectors.
    But all will cost you exactly the same to run, so if by better you mean 'cheaper', then it doesn't make any difference.

    By better I mean last for longer.
    amiaspden wrote: »
    An alternative to blankets/hot water bottles would be a heated throw e.g. http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4500881.htm
    I have my heating turned off now and this throw is all I need in the evenings whilst sitting in front of the TV.

    Good idea :). Aren't fire brigades dead against these though, or is that just old ones?
  • Cardew
    Cardew Posts: 29,064 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Rampant Recycler
    Marches wrote: »
    By better I mean last for longer.



    Good idea :). Aren't fire brigades dead against these though, or is that just old ones?

    The Fire Brigades are in a lose/lose situation.

    They cannot say any electrical appliance is 100% 'safe', although the risk is tiny.

    Are we really supposed to switch off fridges, freezers, sky boxes, burglar alarms, CH boilers and CH timers, phones etc etc?

    Every socket and switch in a property has 240 volts connected and probably more potential to have fire damage. Over the years many of us will have seen blackened wiring in sockets.
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